Oliver Stone, Lav Diaz chosen as BIFF jurors

Hollywood director Oliver Stone and the Philippines’ Lav Diaz have been selected as jurors for the 22nd Busan International Film Festival’s New Currents section that showcases the works of rising Asian directors.

Oliver Stone (left) and Lav Diaz (Facebook and BIFF)

Stone will serve as head juror of the panel together with Diaz, director Bahman Ghobadi from Iran, cinematographer Agnès Godard from France and director Jang Sun-woo from South Korea.

He is best known for films like “Platoon,” which won him an Oscar and Golden Globe, “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Wall Street.”

Besides being a filmmaker, Diaz is also a cinematographer, editor, writer, producer, actor, poet, composer, and production designer, the BIFF said. He won the Orizzonti Grand Prize at the 65th Venice International Film Festival for his 2008 film “Melancholia” and the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon.”

Last year, he received the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” and Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival for “Ang Babaeng Humayo.”

In addition, two Filipino films have been chosen under BIFF’s 20th Asian Project Market (APM) considered as the “biggest investment and co-production market in Asia.”

A total of 28 film projects were selected this year out of 317 entries.

From the Philippines, the chosen entries are “The Gospel of the Beast,” directed and produced by Sheron Dayoc and “Shade,” directed by Loy Arcenas and produced by Alemberg Ang.

The BIFF will run from Oct. 12-21 while the Asian Project Market will be held from Oct. 15 to 17.